Harihari

Accessed over private land south of Taharoa on the Waikato’s west coast, Lake Harihari’s water quality and overall condition are very good. It supports a diversity of submerged plants.

After assessing the ecological condition of the lake in 2005, NIWA concluded its condition was good for a lake of its size, depth and catchment type. NIWA attributed this to a well developed fringe of reeds and an abundant population of mussels.

Lake Harihari is not identified as a priority stock exclusion waterbody in the Waikato Regional Plan.

Waikato Regional Council has been working with a landowner to fence a protective margin of land along the lake. A fence constructed in 2009 created a margin around the southern edge. Funding was also obtained through the Biodiversity Condition Fund to replant and manage the retired margins of the lake.

Waikato Regional Council has identified a need for ongoing lake health monitoring, and an assessment of risks to the health of the lake in order to identify a programme of work to protect and enhance the lake’s condition. Waikato Regional Council is also continuing to work with trustees of the two adjoining properties to address remaining unfenced lake margins, where cattle currently have access to the lake.

Preventing the introduction of pest fish and any further invasive plant species is also necessary to safeguard the water quality of the lake and its submerged native plant communities.

Lake Summary

Lake size

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Catchment size

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Scientific data for this lake

This dashboard shows information on the data collected by the regional councils for two lake water quality and ecological condition measurements. Lake SPI (Lake Submerged Plant Indicators) and TLI (Trophic Level):

Water Quality

Trophic Level Index (TLI)

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This measure is the Trophic Level Index (TLI). The TLI indicates the lifesupporting capacity of a lake and is based on four water quality indicators.

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Trophic Level Index (TLI) history for this lake

Trophic Level Indicator (TLI) which measures four parameters: water clarity, chlorophyll content, total phosphorus and total nitrogen. From these
parameters a TLI value is calculated. In cases where water clarity data is missing a three parameter TLI is calculated. The higher the value, the greater
the nutrients and fertility of the water which encourages growth, including algal blooms. As a rule, higher TLI scores mean poorer water quality.
View a factsheet on TLI

LakeSPI history for this lake

LakeSPI (Lake Submerged Plant Indicators) is a method of characterising the ecological condition of lakes based on the composition of native and
invasive plants growing in them. A higher LakeSPI percentage result is associated with better ecological health: